Alcohol Awareness Week Toolkit - Birmingham

You will be invited to a welcome meeting so just make sure you bring yourself along! You shouldn’t stop drinking suddenly as this can lead to withdrawal symptoms. It’s ok to have a drink but please do not turn up intoxicated before your first appointment. Alcohol detox is not always the first step. We encourage you to try group and specialist sessions. Don’t feel discouraged if your journey is taking longer than you thought. Everyone’s journey is different and just know our staff will support you every step of the way.

Call in ask for a call from a worker to chat about what to expect on your first day. Bring a family member or friend along to your first appointment. We have very friendly staff who understand everyone’s personal situation and are trained on how to support them. We have Recovery motivators who have a living experience who can understand and support them. We also provide online groups that clients can access from home which can reduce the anxiety of traveling to groups.

Start by getting your loved one in a quiet and safe place. They need to have their full attention on you. Pick the right time to talk. Make it clear that you want to talk to them about something important to you and your health. If you don’t feel like speaking or having a face-to-face conversation, try writing a list of thoughts, having a text conversation, recording a voice note. Our staff will always help you to talk to your loved ones about your treatment. Invite your loved one along to a group session for family and friends. Be aware your family and friends might ask questions or become emotional. This is ok and completely normal. It is ok for you to be emotional as well and to take a break from the conversation.

Drinking more at home or going out to drink more often. Regularly short of or asking to borrow money. Deterioration in their self-care and personal hygiene. Not eating, loss of weight, shaking. Noticeable mood changes or becoming aggressive when somebody tries to discuss their alcohol use. Smelling of alcohol. Forgetfulness, lethargy, slurred speech. Being dishonest or being secretive. Not turning up to work, missing appointments, withdrawal from social situations. Notice them being sick or retching on regular basis, particularly in the mornings when they first get up. Increase in the number of accidents or injuries i.e. slips trips or falls. Finding full / empty / partly consumed alcohol cans / bottles in unusual places.

The sooner your loved one gets the support they need, the better it will be for them and for the people who care about them. Try to speak to them about what you’ve noticed and pick the right time to speak to them. Don’t ignore the situation or wait or hope they will speak to you first, as it is likely they are one or more of the following: in denial about their drinking and may not be as concerned as you are, worried themselves, but don’t know what to do, concerned about confiding in you because they are worried about your reaction and/or what will happen next. Never try to hide or take their alcohol away from them as it could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. This could make them unwell and even be fatal.

Start by sharing that you care about them and that you are worried they have not been themselves lately. Ask them how they are feeling and if there is anything you can do to help them. Share with them that you have noticed they have been drinking more regularly than they used to and that you are concerned it's harming their health and wellbeing. Assure them you are not criticising them but are concerned about them and want to understand what they are going through. Try to ask them if there is anything that is troubling them and is causing them to drink more often.

Reassure them that they are extremely brave by admitting they have a problem and are willing to take steps to treat it. Reassure them that with the right help and support there is a way out. Tell them that struggles with alcohol use can happen to anyone and that it's important they speak to somebody to get to the reasons behind their drinking. Offer to support them as much as they need you to, like helping them to get in touch with the right services and supporting them to attend appointments if that’s what they would like you to do. Reassure them they are doing the right thing and life will get better for them.

It’s important to remember that ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. There are plenty of mutual aid groups to attend such as AA, SMART recovery. Or they may decide that one to one counselling is more suitable. Suggest they see their GP who can signpost to Change Grow Live or other specialist organisations. Never force them to go to groups. Let it be their decision and offer your support regardless.

Know that you have done the right thing by talking to them and offering support. It is likely they will be feeling scared and can’t imagine how they would cope without alcohol, especially if they are physically dependent on it. If they try to minimise or reject your concerns, know that this is often normal behaviour. Don’t take their first response at face value and be prepared to revisit the conversation again in the future, when the time feels right.

Is there something you would like to talk about/how can I help you? Is there anything that has triggered your drinking? Don’t say ‘just stop drinking’ and you’ll be okay. Focus on building their trust so they will be more likely to listen to suggestions. Be supportive – they may not want to quit entirely but at least they are open to the conversation.